Hymn #1He is the valiant Son of Peace. Together we are the Sons of Oil, we are the kings and priests of the Lord. His seat is at Nob. He is a furnace and is the prophecy of God. He has come to spoil and to scourge. He is the scorpion of change. With him comes growth.

He is to be desired and we shall strive after him. Together we shall be our father’s brother. He tells me to be silent and become still. To prate, babble and to pray! To cut away the desire to be high, instead to increase, flow, and give up the ego. Embrace this lamb unto dizziness and happiness with great rejoicing.

Our Lord is our father; benefactor, cherisher, sustainer; teacher. He is the blooming freshness; the blossom-time, and the fruit. We entreat him to enter, to lead, and to bear us up during our trials.

O ye light and darkness, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

Monday, March 28, 2011

This paper has been written not only with the object of attracting individual seekers into the way of Truth, but of affirming the propriety of the methods of the A:.A:. as the basis for the next great step in the advance of human knowledge.

To man I come, the number of A man my number, Lion of Light;I am The Beast whose Law is Love. Love under will, his royal right—Behold within, and not above, One star in sight!

A poetic account of natural man lost yet seeking, before finding the one star in sight. The Astron Argon.

The Order of the Star called S. S. is, in respect of its existence upon the Earth, an organized body of men and women distinguished among their fellows by the qualities here enumerated. They exist in their own Truth, which is both universal and unique. They move in accordance with their own Wills, which are each unique, yet coherent with the universal will.

Every man and every woman is a star. Liber AL I:3

It should be stated that these Grades are not necessarily attained fully, and in strict consecution, or manifested wholly on all planes.

The general powers and levels of attainment do not necessarily happen in a linear fashion or full mastery complete, but rather by degrees. As stated later in One Star In Sight, "The outline given of the several successive steps is exact; the two crises -- the Angel and the Abyss --- are necessary features in every career. The other tasks are not always accomplished in the order given here; one man, for example, may acquire many of the qualities peculiar to the Adeptus Major, and yet lack some of those proper to the Practicus."

All members of the Order are in full possession of the Formulae of Attainment, both mystical or inwardly-directed and Magical or outwardly-directed. They have full experience of attainment in both these paths.

Note: Yoga and Magick

They are all, however, bound by the original and fundamental Oath of the Order, to devote their energy to assisting the Progress of their Inferiors in the Order. Those who accept the rewards of their emancipation for themselves are no longer within the Order.

Members of the Order are each entitled to found Orders dependent on themselves on the lines of the R. C. and G. D. orders, to cover types of emancipation and illumination not contemplated by the original (or main) system. All such orders must, however, be constituted in harmony with the A:.A:. as regards the essential principles.

The fundamental oath and purpose of the Order is to assist in the transformation and attainment of all. The law is for all. The initiate only seeks higher levels of attainment in order to be better equipped to serve others on the path. To forsake this is to lose your dispensation. As stated later in One Star in Sight, "The fundamental purpose of the Order is to further the Attainment of humanity, membership implies, by definition, the Will to help mankind by the means best adapted thereto."

All members of the Order are in possession of the Word of the existing Aeon, and govern themselves thereby.

The word of the aeon is Thelema.

The Order of the S. S.

Ipsissimus 10 = 1The Ipsissimus is pre-eminently the Master of all modes of existence; that is, his being is entirely free from internal or external necessity. His work is to destroy all tendencies to construct or to cancel such necessities. He is the Master of the Law of Unsubstantiality (Anatta).

Magus 9 = 2The essential characteristic of the Grade is that its possessor utters a Creative Magical Word, which transforms the planet on which he lives by the installation of new officers to preside over its initiation. This can take place only at an "Equinox of the Gods" at the end of an "Aeon"; that is, when the secret formula which expresses the Law of its action becomes outworn and useless to its further development.

To attain the Grade of Ipsissimus he must accomplish three tasks, destroying the Three Guardians mentioned in Liber 418, the 3rd Aethyr; Madness, and Falsehood, and Glamour, that is, Duality in Act, Word and Thought.

Master of the Temple 8=3The essential Attainment is the perfect annihilation of that personality which limits and oppresses his true self.

To attain the grade of Magus he must accomplish Three Tasks; the renunciation of His enjoyment of the Infinite so that he may formulate Himself as the Finite; the acquisition of the practical secrets alike of initiating and governing His proposed new Universe and the identification of himself with the impersonal idea of Love.

The Order of the R. C.

Babe of the AbyssThe Grade of the Babe of the Abyss is not a Grade in the proper sense, being rather a passage between the two Orders. Its characteristics are wholly negative, as it is attained by the resolve of the Adeptus Exemptus to surrender all that he has and is for ever. It is an annihilation of all the bonds that compose the self or constitute the Cosmos, a resolution of all complexities into their elements, and these thereby cease to manifest, since things are only knowable in respect of their relation to, and reaction on, other things.

Adeptus Exemptus 7=4The Adept must prepare and publish a thesis setting forth His knowledge of the Universe, and his proposals for its welfare and progress. He will thus be known as the leader of a school of thought. He will have attained all but the supreme summits of meditation, and should be already prepared to perceive that the only possible course for him is to devote himself utterly to helping his fellow creatures.

To attain the Babe of the Abyss, he must perform two tasks; the emancipation from thought by putting each idea against its opposite, and refusing to prefer either; and the consecration of himself as a pure vehicle for the influence of the order to which he aspires. He must then decide upon the critical adventure of our Order; the absolute abandonment of himself and his attainments. He cannot remain indefinitely an Exempt Adept; he is pushed onward by the irresistible momentum that he has generated.

Adeptus Major 6=5His work is to use these to support the authority of the Exempt Adept his superior. (This is not to be understood as an obligation of personal subservience or even loyalty; but as a necessary part of his duty to assist his inferiors. For the authority of the Teaching and governing Adept is the basis of all orderly work.)

To attain the Grade of Adeptus Exemptus, he must accomplish Three Tasks; the acquisition of absolute Self-Reliance, working in complete isolation, yet transmitting the word of his superior clearly, forcibly and subtly; and the comprehension and use of the Revolution of the wheel of force, under its three successive forms of Radiation, Conduction and Convection (Mercury, Sulphur, Salt; or Sattvas, Rajas, Tamas), with their corresponding natures on other planes. Thirdly, he must exert his whole power and authority to govern the Members of lower Grades with balanced vigour and initiative in such a way as to allow no dispute or complaint; he must employ to this end the formula called "The Beast conjoined with the Woman" which establishes a new incarnation of deity; as in the legends of Leda, Semele, Miriam, Pasiphae, and others. He must set up this ideal for the orders which he rules, so that they may possess a not too abstract rallying point suited to their undeveloped states.

Adeptus Minor 5=6It is characterised by the Attainment of the Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel. His work is to manifest the Beauty of the Order to the world, in the way that his superiors enjoin, and his genius dictates. The Adeptus Minor needs little help or guidance even from his superiors in our Order.

To attain the Grade Adeptus Major, he must accomplish two tasks; the equilibration of himself, especially as to his passions, so that he has no preference for any one course of conduct over another, and the fulfilment of every action by its complement, so that whatever he does leaves him without temptation to wander from the way of his True Will. Secondly, he must keep silence, while he nails his body to the tree of his creative will, in the shape of that Will, leaving his head and arms to form the symbol of Light, as if to make oath that his every thought, word and deed should express the Light derived from the God with which he has identified his life, his love and his liberty --- symbolised by his heart, his phallus, and his legs. It is impossible to lay down precise rules by which a man may attain to the knowledge and conversation of His Holy Guardian Angel; for that is the particular secret of each one of us; as secret not to be told or even divined by any other, whatever his grade. It is the Holy of Holies, whereof each man is his own High Priest, and none knoweth the Name of his brother's God, or the Rite that invokes Him.

The Grades of the Order of the G. D. The Aspirant is trained systematically and comprehensively in the various technical practices which form the basis of Our Work. One may become expert in any or all of these without necessarily making any real progress, just as a man might be first-rate at grammar, syntax, and prosody without being able to write a single line of good poetry, although the greatest poet in soul is unable to express himself without the aid of those three elements of literary composition.

Summery of Liber 185

Dominus LiminisIs expected to show mastery of Pratyahara and Dharana.TASKS: Let him receive Liber Mysteriorum. He shall pass examination in Liber III, Cap. III. He shall meditate on the diverse knowledge and Power that he has acquired, and harmonize it perfectly. Furthermore, he shall construct the magic Lamp, according to instructions in Liber A

Philosophus 4=7Is expected to complete his moral training. He is tested in Devotion to the Order.TASKS: He shall pass examinations in Liber CLXXV and in Construction and Consecration of Talismans and in Evocation. He shall moreover attain complete success in Liber III, Cap. II.Further, he shall apply himself to study and practice the meditations given in Liber V. He shall show some acquaintance with and experience of Liber O, Caps. V, VI. Whereof his Record shall be witness. He shall commit to memory a chapter of Liber DCCCXIII. Besides all this, he shall make constant and profound reflections upon the Path. Furthermore, he shall construct the magic Wand, according to the instructions in Liber A.

Practicus 3=8Is expected to complete his intellectual training, and in particular to study the Qabalah.TASKS: He shall pass examinations in Liber DCCLXXVII, the Qabalah, and Sepher Sephiroth. He shall attain complete success in Liber III, Cap. I. He shall further show some acquaintance with and experience of his chosen method of divination. He shall commit to memory Liber XXVII and pass examinations in the Ritual and meditation practice given in Liber XVI. Further, he shall pass in the meditation practice S. S. S., in Liber HHH. Besides all this, he shall apply himself to a way of life wholly suited to the Path. Furthermore, he shall construct the magic Cup, according to the instruction in Liber A.

Zelator 2=9His main work is to achieve complete success in Asana and Pranayama. He also begins to study the formula of the Rosy Cross.TASKS: He shall pass Examinations in Liber E, Posture and Breathing. He shall commit to memory a chapter of Liber CCXX; he shall pass examinations in Liber HHH. Furthermore, he shall construct the magic Dagger, according to the instruction in Liber A.Neophyte 1=10Has to acquire perfect control of the Astral Plane.TASKS: The Neophyte shall not proceed to the grade of Zelator in less than eight months; but shall hold himself free for four days for advancement at the end of that period. He shall pass the four tests called the Powers of the Sphinx. He shall apply himself to understand the nature of his Initiation. He shall commit to memory a chapter of Liber VII; and furthermore, he shall study and practice a chapter of Liber O in all its branches: also he shall begin to study Liber H and some commonly accepted method of divination. He will further be examined in his power of Journeying in the Spirit Vision. Furthermore, he shall construct the magic Pentacle, according to the instruction in Liber A.Probationer 0=0His principal business is to begin such practices as he my prefer, and to write a careful record of the same for one year.TASKS: Probation shall be at least one year. He shall commit a chapter of Liber LXV to memory; and furthermore, he shall study the Publications of the A.'. A.'. in Class B, and apply himself to such practices of Scientific Illuminism as seemeth him good.

All Members of the A:.A:. work by the Magical Formula of the Aeon.

They must accept the Book of the Law as the Word and the Letter of Truth, and the sole Rule of Life.

They must acknowledge the Authority of the Beast 666 and of the Scarlet Woman as in the book it is defined, and accept Their Will

They must accept the Crowned and Conquering Child as the Lord of the Aeon, and exert themselves to establish His reign upon Earth.

They must acknowledge that "The word of the Law is Thelema" and that "Love is the law, love under will."

Each member must make it his main work to discover for himself his own true will, and to do it, and do nothing else.